FutureFuel Corp. - Quarter Report: 2009 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
√
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
OR
|
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the transition period from
_____________
|
Commission
file number: 0-52577
FUTUREFUEL
CORP.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
|
20-3340900
|
|
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization)
|
(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
|
8235
Forsyth Blvd., Suite 400
St.
Louis, Missouri 63105
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
(314)
854-8520
(Registrant’s
Telephone Number)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
Yes √ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No √
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common
stock, as of November 9, 2009: 28,190,300
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes √ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerate filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer
|
Accelerated
filer √
|
Non-accelerated
filer
(do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company
|
1
PART
I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial Statements.
The
following sets forth our unaudited consolidated balance sheet as at
September 30, 2009, our audited consolidated balance sheet as at
December 31, 2008, our unaudited consolidated statements of operations and
comprehensive income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30,
2009 and September 30, 2008, and our consolidated statements of cash flows for
the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and September 30,
2008.
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
As
at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008
(Dollars
in thousands)
(Unaudited)
September
30,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$ | 73,134 | $ | 27,455 | ||||
Accounts
receivable, net of allowances of $4 in 2008
|
23,134 | 20,048 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable – related parties
|
24 | - | ||||||
Inventory
|
31,345 | 27,585 | ||||||
Income taxes
receivable
|
- | 792 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses
|
441 | 1,294 | ||||||
Marketable debt and auction rate
securities
|
2,800 | 46,411 | ||||||
Other current
assets
|
738 | 4,751 | ||||||
Total current
assets
|
131,616 | 128,336 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment,
net
|
119,376 | 106,320 | ||||||
Intangible assets
|
236 | 321 | ||||||
Other assets
|
2,874 | 3,149 | ||||||
Total noncurrent
assets
|
122,486 | 109,790 | ||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 254,102 | $ | 238,126 | ||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity
|
||||||||
Accounts payable
|
$ | 12,028 | $ | 13,332 | ||||
Accounts payable - related
parties
|
153 | 422 | ||||||
Income taxes
payable
|
2,576 | - | ||||||
Current deferred income tax
liability
|
3,528 | 4,151 | ||||||
Short term contingent
consideration
|
1,654 | 1,936 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities
|
4,911 | 2,251 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities - related parties
|
20 | 20 | ||||||
Total current
liabilities
|
24,870 | 22,112 | ||||||
Deferred revenue
|
9,416 | 9,994 | ||||||
Other noncurrent
liabilities
|
1,361 | 1,243 | ||||||
Noncurrent deferred income tax
liability
|
24,163 | 23,140 | ||||||
Total noncurrent
liabilities
|
34,940 | 34,377 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
59,810 | 56,489 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||||||
Preferred
stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and
outstanding
|
- | - | ||||||
Common
stock, $0.0001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 28,190,300 issued
and outstanding
|
3 | 3 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive
income
|
- | 15 | ||||||
Additional paid in
capital
|
167,139 | 167,524 | ||||||
Retained earnings
|
27,150 | 14,095 | ||||||
Total stockholders’
equity
|
194,292 | 181,637 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 254,102 | $ | 238,126 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
2
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For
the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three
Months Ended
September 30,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 52,263 | $ | 57,183 | ||||
Revenues
– related parties
|
- | 3,402 | ||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
36,839 | 44,611 | ||||||
Cost
of goods sold – related parties
|
635 | 3,950 | ||||||
Distribution
|
1,139 | 1,144 | ||||||
Gross
profit
|
13,650 | 10,880 | ||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
||||||||
Compensation
expense
|
729 | 652 | ||||||
Other expense
|
382 | 385 | ||||||
Related party
expense
|
43 | 38 | ||||||
Research
and development expenses
|
1,111 | 1,079 | ||||||
2,265 | 2,154 | |||||||
Income
from operations
|
11,385 | 8,726 | ||||||
Interest
income
|
36 | 671 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
(5 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||
Loss
on foreign currency
|
- | (89 | ) | |||||
Loss
on sale of marketable debt securities
|
- | (460 | ) | |||||
Other
income
|
12 | - | ||||||
43 | 116 | |||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
11,428 | 8,842 | ||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
4,044 | 3,453 | ||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 7,384 | $ | 5,389 | ||||
Earnings
per common share
|
||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.26 | $ | 0.20 | ||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.25 | $ | 0.19 | ||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
||||||||
Basic
|
28,190,300 | 26,787,609 | ||||||
Diluted
|
29,191,106 | 28,821,986 | ||||||
Comprehensive
Income
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 7,384 | $ | 5,389 | ||||
Other
comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(52) in 2008
|
- | (87 | ) | |||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$ | 7,384 | $ | 5,302 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
3
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 132,939 | $ | 150,299 | ||||
Revenues
– related parties
|
892 | 3,402 | ||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
101,464 | 119,544 | ||||||
Cost
of goods sold – related parties
|
3,132 | 5,532 | ||||||
Distribution
|
3,357 | 2,713 | ||||||
Gross
profit
|
25,878 | 25,912 | ||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
||||||||
Compensation
expense
|
2,021 | 1,980 | ||||||
Other expense
|
1,278 | 938 | ||||||
Related party
expense
|
156 | 142 | ||||||
Research
and development expenses
|
3,110 | 3,042 | ||||||
6,565 | 6,102 | |||||||
Income
from operations
|
19,313 | 19,810 | ||||||
Interest
income
|
325 | 2,286 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
(19 | ) | (17 | ) | ||||
Gain
(loss) on foreign currency
|
(3 | ) | 293 | |||||
Loss
on the sale of marketable debt securities
|
- | (377 | ) | |||||
Other
income (expense)
|
(7 | ) | 6 | |||||
296 | 2,191 | |||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
19,609 | 22,001 | ||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
6,554 | 7,539 | ||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 13,055 | $ | 14,462 | ||||
Earnings
per common share
|
||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.46 | $ | 0.54 | ||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.46 | $ | 0.53 | ||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
||||||||
Basic
|
28,190,300 | 26,729,416 | ||||||
Diluted
|
28,529,213 | 27,419,338 | ||||||
Comprehensive
Income
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 13,055 | $ | 14,462 | ||||
Other
comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(9) in 2009 and $(35) in
2008
|
(15 | ) | (58 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$ | 13,040 | $ | 14,404 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
4
FutureFuel
Corp.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars
in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Cash
flows provided by operating activities
|
||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 13,055 | $ | 14,462 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
5,545 | 4,180 | ||||||
Provision
for deferred income taxes
|
400 | 829 | ||||||
Change
in fair value of derivative instruments
|
(1,322 | ) | 1,669 | |||||
Gain
on the sale of investments
|
- | 377 | ||||||
Accretion
of the discount of marketable debt securities
|
- | (103 | ) | |||||
(Gains)
losses on disposals of fixed assets
|
(2 | ) | 10 | |||||
Stock
based compensation
|
- | 411 | ||||||
Noncash
interest expense
|
16 | 16 | ||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(3,086 | ) | (2,865 | ) | ||||
Accounts
receivable – related parties
|
(24 | ) | - | |||||
Inventory
|
(3,760 | ) | (1,806 | ) | ||||
Income taxes
receivable
|
792 | (1,126 | ) | |||||
Prepaid expenses
|
853 | 866 | ||||||
Accrued interest on marketable
debt securities
|
5 | 50 | ||||||
Other assets
|
(201 | ) | 1,043 | |||||
Accounts payable
|
(1,304 | ) | 1,587 | |||||
Accounts
payable – related parties
|
(269 | ) | 350 | |||||
Income taxes
payable
|
2,576 | (1,231 | ) | |||||
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities
|
2,660 | 769 | ||||||
Deferred
revenue
|
(578 | ) | 7,461 | |||||
Other
noncurrent liabilities
|
101 | 80 | ||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
15,457 | 27,029 | ||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||
Restricted cash
|
- | 3,263 | ||||||
Collateralization of derivative
instruments
|
5,719 | (2,240 | ) | |||||
Purchase of marketable
securities
|
(19,999 | ) | (56,807 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from the sale of
marketable securities
|
35,972 | 39,557 | ||||||
Sales (purchases) of auction rate
securities, net
|
12,185 | (25,600 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from the sale of
commercial paper
|
15,424 | - | ||||||
Proceeds from the sale of fixed
assets
|
17 | 8 | ||||||
Acquisition of a
granary
|
(1,252 | ) | - | |||||
Contingent purchase price
payment
|
(282 | ) | (218 | ) | ||||
Capital
expenditures
|
(17,177 | ) | (13,177 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
30,607 | (55,214 | ) | |||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||
Proceeds from line of
credit
|
- | 343 | ||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of
stock
|
- | 592 | ||||||
Purchase of
warrants
|
(385 | ) | - | |||||
Excess tax benefits associated
with stock options
|
- | 22 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
(385 | ) | 957 | |||||
Net
change in cash and cash equivalents
|
45,679 | (27,228 | ) | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
27,455 | 54,655 | ||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ | 73,134 | $ | 27,427 | ||||
Cash
paid for interest
|
$ | 5 | $ | 1 | ||||
Cash
paid for taxes
|
$ | 2,922 | $ | 8,967 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
5
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
1) Nature
of operations and basis of presentation
FutureFuel
Corp.
Viceroy
Acquisition Corporation (“Viceroy”) was incorporated under the laws of the state
of Delaware on August 12, 2005 to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition by
way of asset acquisition, merger, capital stock exchange, share purchase or
similar transaction of one or more operating businesses in the oil and gas
industry. On July 12, 2006 Viceroy completed an equity
offering.
On
July 21, 2006, Viceroy entered into an acquisition agreement with Eastman
Chemical Company (“Eastman Chemical”) to purchase all of the issued and
outstanding stock of Eastman SE, Inc. (“Eastman SE”). On
October 27, 2006, a special meeting of the shareholders of Viceroy was held
and the acquisition of Eastman SE was approved by the
shareholders. On October 31, 2006, Viceroy acquired all of the
issued and outstanding shares of Eastman SE from Eastman
Chemical. Immediately subsequent to the acquisition, Viceroy changed
its name to FutureFuel Corp. (“FutureFuel”) and Eastman SE changed its name to
FutureFuel Chemical Company (“FutureFuel Chemical”).
Eastman
SE, Inc.
Eastman
SE was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on September 1,
2005 and subsequent thereto operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastman
Chemical through October 31, 2006. Eastman SE was incorporated
for purposes of effecting a sale of Eastman Chemical’s manufacturing facility in
Batesville, Arkansas (the “Batesville Plant”). Commencing
January 1, 2006, Eastman Chemical began transferring the assets associated
with the business of the Batesville Plant to Eastman SE.
The
Batesville Plant was constructed to produce proprietary photographic chemicals
for Eastman Kodak Company (“Eastman Kodak”). Over the years, Eastman
Kodak shifted the plant’s focus away from the photographic imaging business to
the custom synthesis of fine chemicals and organic chemical intermediates used
in a variety of end markets, including paints and coatings, plastics and
polymers, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, household detergents and
agricultural products.
In 2005,
the Batesville Plant began the implementation of a biobased products
platform. This includes the production of biofuels (biodiesel,
bioethanol and lignin/biomass solid fuels) and biobased specialty chemical
products (biobased solvents, chemicals and intermediates). In
addition to biobased products, the Batesville Plant continues to manufacture
fine chemicals and other organic chemicals.
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by FutureFuel
in accordance and consistent with the accounting policies stated in FutureFuel’s
2008 audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction
with the 2008 audited consolidated financial statements of
FutureFuel. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to
conform with the current year presentation.
In the
opinion of FutureFuel, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair
presentation have been included in the unaudited consolidated financial
statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in compliance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")
Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with
instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"). Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all the
information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States for complete financial statements, and do include amounts
that are based upon management estimates and judgments. Future actual
results could differ from such current estimates. The unaudited
consolidated financial statements include assets, liabilities, revenues and
expenses of FutureFuel and its wholly owned subsidiary, FutureFuel
Chemical. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated
in consolidation.
6
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
The
carrying values of inventory were as follows as of:
September
30,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
At
first-in, first-out or average cost (approximates current
cost)
|
||||||||
Finished goods
|
$ | 16,175 | $ | 15,634 | ||||
Work in process
|
1,747 | 1,800 | ||||||
Raw materials and
supplies
|
18,246 | 14,833 | ||||||
36,168 | 32,267 | |||||||
LIFO reserve
|
(4,823 | ) | (4,682 | ) | ||||
Total inventories
|
$ | 31,345 | $ | 27,585 |
3) Derivative
instruments
FutureFuel
is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business
operations. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments
is commodity price risk. Regulated fixed price futures and option
contracts are utilized to manage the price risk associated with future purchases
of feedstock used in FutureFuel’s biodiesel production along with physical
feedstock and finished product inventories attributed to this
process.
FutureFuel
recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair
value in its consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel’s derivative
instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting under the specific guidelines of
ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and
Hedging, Hedging-General, Recognition. While management
believes each of these instruments are entered into in order to effectively
manage various risks, none of the derivative instruments are designated and
accounted for as hedges primarily as a result of the extensive record keeping
requirements.
The fair
value of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments is determined based on the closing
prices of the derivative instruments on relevant commodity exchanges at the end
of an accounting period. Changes in fair value of the derivative
instruments are recorded in the statement of operations as a component of cost
of good sold, and amounted to a gain of $1,394 and $1,767 for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.
The
volumes and carrying values of FutureFuel’s derivative instruments were as
follows at:
Asset/(Liability)
|
||||||||||||||||
September
30, 2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||||||||||
Quantity
(Contracts) Long/
(Short)
|
Fair
Market Value
|
Quantity
(Contracts) Long/
(Short)
|
Fair
Market Value
|
|||||||||||||
Regulated
fixed price future commitments, included in other current
assets
|
(212 | ) | $ | (901 | ) | - | $ | - | ||||||||
Regulated
options, included in other current assets
|
(225 | ) | $ | (944 | ) | (875 | ) | $ | (3,175 | ) |
The
margin account maintained with a broker to collateralize these derivative
instruments carried an account balance of $2,107 and $7,826 at September 30,
2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and is classified as other
current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The carrying values
of the margin account and of the derivative instruments are included, net, in
other current assets.
7
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
4) Marketable
debt securities
As of
December 31, 2008, FutureFuel had made investments in certain U.S. treasury
bills and notes. As of December 31, 2008, these marketable debt
securities had maturities ranging from January 2009 to March
2009. FutureFuel anticipated these securities being sold or maturing
within one year and therefore classified all marketable debt securities as
current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance
sheet. FutureFuel designated these securities as being
available-for-sale. Accordingly, these securities were carried at
fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a
component of stockholders’ equity. At September 30, 2009 no such
securities were held.
The fair
market value of these marketable debt securities, including accrued interest,
totaled $15,999 at December 31, 2008.
Additionally,
FutureFuel has made investments in certain auction rate
securities. As of September 30, 2009, these securities had a maturity
of August 2037. FutureFuel classified these instruments as current
assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the issuers of these
instruments have either exercised their right to repurchase or a liquid market
still exists for these securities, which allows FutureFuel to exit its positions
within a short period of time. FutureFuel anticipates these
securities either being sold or repurchased within the next
year. FutureFuel has designated these securities as being
available-for-sale. Accordingly, these securities are carried at fair
value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component
of stockholders’ equity. No realized gains or losses have been
incurred related to these securities through September 30,
2009.
The fair
market value of these auction rate securities approximated their par value and,
including accrued interest, totaled $2,800 and $14,990 at September 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008, respectively.
At
December 31, 2008, FutureFuel had investments in certain commercial
paper. These investments had maturity dates ranging from January 2009
to March 2009 and have been classified as current assets in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheet. FutureFuel had designated these
securities as being available for sale. Accordingly, they were
recorded at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes,
reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. At September 30,
2009 no such investments were held.
The fair
value of these investments, including accrued interest, totaled $15,424 at
December 31, 2008.
5) Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities, including those associated with related
parties, consisted of the following at:
September 30,
2009
|
December 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Accrued
employee liabilities
|
$ | 3,652 | $ | 1,248 | ||||
Accrued
property, use and franchise taxes
|
813 | 975 | ||||||
Other
|
466 | 48 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 4,931 | $ | 2,271 |
6) Borrowings
In March
2007 FutureFuel Chemical entered into a $50 million credit agreement with a
commercial bank. The loan is a revolving facility the proceeds of
which may be used for working capital, capital expenditures and the general
corporate purposes of FutureFuel Chemical. The facility terminates in
March 2010. Advances are made pursuant to a borrowing base comprised
of 85% of eligible accounts plus 60% of eligible direct inventory plus 50% of
eligible indirect inventory. Advances are secured by a perfected
first priority security interest in accounts receivable and
inventory. The interest rate floats at certain margins over the
London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or base rate based upon the leverage
ratio from time to time as set forth in the following table.
8
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Leverage
Ratio
|
Base
Rate
Margin
|
LIBOR
Margin
|
||
>
3
|
-0.55%
|
1.70%
|
||
> 2 < 3
|
-0.70%
|
1.55%
|
||
> 1 < 2
|
-0.85%
|
1.40%
|
||
<
1
|
-1.00%
|
1.25%
|
There is
an unused commitment fee of 0.25% per annum. The ratio of EBITDA to
fixed charges may not be less than 3:1. FutureFuel has guaranteed
FutureFuel Chemical’s obligations under this credit agreement.
At
September 30, 2009, no borrowings were outstanding under this credit
facility.
7) Provision
for income taxes
For
the three months ended September 30,
|
For
the nine months ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
$ | 4,044 | $ | 3,453 | $ | 6,554 | $ | 7,539 | ||||||||
Effective
tax rate
|
35.4 | % | 39.1 | % | 33.4 | % | 34.3 | % |
The
effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and
2008 reflect FutureFuel’s expected tax rate on reported operating earnings
before income tax.
FutureFuel’s
unrecognized tax benefits, recorded as an element of other noncurrent
liabilities, totaled $559 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the
total amount of which, if recognized, would reduce FutureFuel’s effective tax
rate.
FutureFuel
does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the
next 12 months.
FutureFuel
records interest and penalties net as a component of income tax
expense. FutureFuel had accrued a balance of $127 and $96 at
September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, for interest or tax
penalties.
FutureFuel
and its subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical, file tax returns in the U.S. federal
jurisdiction and with various state jurisdictions. FutureFuel was
incorporated in 2005 and is subject to U.S., state and local examinations by tax
authorities from 2005 forward. FutureFuel Chemical is subject to the
effects of tax examinations that may impact the carry-over basis of its assets
and liabilities.
9
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
8) Earnings
per share
The
computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share was as
follows:
For
the three months ended September 30,
|
For
the nine months ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income available to common stockholders
|
$ | 7,384 | $ | 5,389 | $ | 13,055 | $ | 14,462 | ||||||||
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding
|
28,190,300 | 26,787,609 | 28,190,300 | 26,729,416 | ||||||||||||
Effect
of warrants
|
977,076 | 1,948,721 | 325,692 | 649,574 | ||||||||||||
Effect
of stock options
|
23,730 | 85,656 | 13,221 | 40,348 | ||||||||||||
Weighted
average diluted number of common shares outstanding
|
29,191,106 | 28,821,986 | 28,529,213 | 27,419,338 | ||||||||||||
Basic
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.26 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.54 | ||||||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.25 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.53 |
Certain
warrants to purchase shares of FutureFuel's common stock were not included in
the computation of diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009 as they were anti-dilutive for the period. The
weighted average number of warrants excluded on this basis was
14,211,667. Additionally, certain options to purchase shares of
FutureFuel's common stock were not included in the computation of diluted
earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as they were
anti-dilutive. The weighted average number of options excluded on
this basis was 71,667.
9) Segment
information
FutureFuel
has determined that is has two reportable segments organized along product lines
– chemicals and biofuels.
Chemicals
FutureFuel’s
chemicals segment manufactures diversified chemical products that are sold
externally to third party customers. This segment comprises two
components: “custom manufacturing” (manufacturing chemicals for specific
customers); and “performance chemicals” (multi-customer specialty
chemicals).
Biofuels
FutureFuel’s
biofuels business segment manufactures and markets
biodiesel. Revenues are generated through the production and sale of
biodiesel to customers through FutureFuel’s distribution network from the
Batesville Plant and through distribution facilities available at leased oil
storage facilities at negotiated prices.
Summary
of long-lived assets and revenues by geographic area
All of
FutureFuel’s long-lived assets are located in the U.S.
Most of
FutureFuel’s sales are transacted with title passing at the time of shipment
from the Batesville Plant, although some sales are transacted based on title
passing at the delivery point. While many of FutureFuel’s chemicals
are utilized to manufacture products that are shipped, further processed and/or
consumed throughout the world, the chemical products, with limited exceptions,
generally leave the United States only after ownership has transferred from
FutureFuel to the customer. Rarely is FutureFuel the exporter of
record, never is FutureFuel the importer of record into foreign countries and
FutureFuel is not always aware of the exact quantities of its products that are
moved into foreign markets by its customers.
10
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
FutureFuel
does track the addresses of its customers for invoicing purposes and uses this
address to determine whether a particular sale is within or without the United
States. FutureFuel’s revenues attributable to the United States and
foreign countries (based upon the billing addresses of its customers) were as
follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
United
States
|
All
Foreign Countries
|
Total
|
|||||||||
September
30, 2009
|
$ | 48,007 | $ | 4,256 | $ | 52,263 | ||||||
September
30, 2008
|
$ | 49,618 | $ | 10,967 | $ | 60,585 |
FutureFuel’s
revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 attributable to
the United States and foreign countries (based upon the billing addresses of its
customers) were as follows:
Nine
Months Ended
|
United
States
|
All
Foreign Countries
|
Total
|
|||||||||
September 30,
2009
|
$ | 120,636 | $ | 13,195 | $ | 133,831 | ||||||
September 30,
2008
|
$ | 128,283 | $ | 25,418 | $ | 153,701 |
For the
three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues from Mexico
accounted for 8% and 9%, respectively, of total revenues. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues from Mexico accounted
for 9% and 10%, respectively, of total revenues. For the three months
ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues from Canada accounted for 0% and 9%,
respectively, of total revenues. For the nine months ended September
30, 2009 and 2008, revenues from Canada accounted for 0% and 6%, respectively,
of total revenues. Other than Mexico and Canada, revenues from a
single foreign country during the three months ended September 30,
2009 and 2008 did not exceed 2% of total revenues.
Summary
of business by segment
For
the three months ended September 30,
|
For
the nine months ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||
Chemicals
|
$ | 39,029 | $ | 41,800 | $ | 102,745 | $ | 114,496 | ||||||||
Biofuels
|
13,234 | 18,785 | 31,086 | 39,205 | ||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 52,263 | $ | 60,585 | $ | 133,831 | $ | 153,701 | ||||||||
Segment
gross margins
|
||||||||||||||||
Chemicals
|
$ | 7,929 | $ | 8,306 | $ | 21,635 | $ | 23,742 | ||||||||
Biofuels
|
5,721 | 2,574 | 4,243 | 2,170 | ||||||||||||
Segment
gross margins
|
13,650 | 10,880 | 25,878 | 25,912 | ||||||||||||
Corporate
expenses
|
(2,265 | ) | (2,154 | ) | (6,565 | ) | (6,102 | ) | ||||||||
Income
before interest and taxes
|
11,385 | 8,726 | 19,313 | 19,810 | ||||||||||||
Interest
and other income
|
48 | 671 | 325 | 2,585 | ||||||||||||
Interest
and other expense
|
(5 | ) | (555 | ) | (29 | ) | (394 | ) | ||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
(4,044 | ) | (3,453 | ) | (6,554 | ) | (7,539 | ) | ||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 7,384 | $ | 5,389 | $ | 13,055 | $ | 14,462 |
Depreciation
is allocated to segment costs of goods sold based on plant usage. The
total assets and capital expenditures of FutureFuel have not been allocated to
individual segments as large portions of these assets are shared to varying
degrees by each segment, causing such an allocation to be of little
value.
Gross
margin for the biofuels segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was
favorably impacted by the receipt of $2,000 from the State of Arkansas resulting
from our biodiesel operating cost grant application under the Arkansas
Alternative Fuels Development Program. This funding was attributable
to our biodiesel production between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 and
was calculated as $0.20 per gallon of biodiesel produced, capped at
$2,000. Gross margin for the biofuels segment for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2009 was favorably impacted by the receipt of $2,000
from the State of Arkansas under the same Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development
Program, again calculated as
11
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
$0.20 per
gallon of biodiesel produced, capped at $2,000. This funding was
attributable to our biodiesel production between July 1, 2008 and June 30,
2009. Based on the characteristics of the Arkansas Alternative Fuels
Development Program and the State funding behind this program, we recognize
income in the period funding is received. The next period for funding
under this program opened on July 1, 2009 and closes on June 30,
2010. FutureFuel intends to apply for maximum funding under this
program for biodiesel production during this period.
10) Fair
value measurements
FutureFuel
adopted ASC 820-10-50, Fair
Value Measurements and Disclosures, Overall, Disclosure, effective
January 1, 2008, which defines fair value as the exit price, or the amount that
would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants as of the measurement
date. ASC 820-10-50 also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in
measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes
the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be
used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market
participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based on market data
obtained from sources independent of FutureFuel. Unobservable inputs
are inputs that reflect FutureFuel’s assumptions about the factors market
participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based upon the best
information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken
down into three levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices
(unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar
assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar
assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs (other than
quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly
or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the
asset or liability. Categorization within the valuation hierarchy is
based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value
measurement.
The
following table provides information by level for assets and liabilities that
are measured at fair value, as defined by ASC 820-10-50, on a recurring
basis.
Asset/(Liability)
|
||||||||||||||||
Fair
Value at September 30,
|
Fair
Value Measurements Using
Inputs
Considered as
|
|||||||||||||||
Description
|
2009
|
Level
1
|
Level
2
|
Level
3
|
||||||||||||
Available
for sale:
|
||||||||||||||||
Auction
rate securities
|
$ | 2,800 | $ | - | $ | 2,800 | $ | - | ||||||||
Derivative
instruments
|
$ | (1,845 | ) | $ | (1,845 | ) | $ | - | $ | - |
11) Recently
issued accounting standards
In June
2009, the FASB issued standards that established the ASC as the source of
authoritative GAAP by the FASB for nongovernmental entities. The ASC supersedes
all non-SEC accounting and reporting standards that existed at the ASC’s
effective date. The FASB uses Accounting Standards Updates ("ASU") to
amend the ASC. These standards are effective for interim and annual periods
ending after September 15, 2009.
In June
2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of
Financial Assets, an amendment of FASB Statement No.140” (“SFAS No.
166”). This statement addresses the relevance, representational
faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity
provides in its financial reports about a transfer of financial assets; the
effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance, and cash
flows; and a transferor’s continuing involvement in transferred financial
assets. This statement is effective as of the beginning of each
reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15,
2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, and for
interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. FutureFuel is
currently evaluating the effect SFAS No. 166 will have on its consolidated
financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.
12
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements of FutureFuel Corp.
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
In June
2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No.
46(R)” (“SFAS No. 167”). This statement amends certain requirements
of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), “Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities”, to improve financial reporting by enterprises
involved with variable interest entities and to provide more relevant and
reliable information to users of financial statements. This statement
is effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual
reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within
that first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods
thereafter. FutureFuel is currently evaluating the effect SFAS No.
167 will have on its consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of
operations.
12) Subsequent
events
FutureFuel
has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to September 30, 2009 through
November 9, 2009, the date the financial statements were filed with the SEC as
part of Form 10-Q. No events require recognition in the consolidated
financial statements or disclosures of FutureFuel per the definitions and
requirements of ASC 855, Subsequent
Events.
13
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
The
following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations should be read together with our consolidated financial
statements, including the notes thereto, set forth herein. This
discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views
with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual
results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements. See “Forward Looking Information” below for additional
discussion regarding risks associated with forward-looking
statements.
Results
of Operations
In General
FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s historical revenues have been generated through the sale of
specialty chemicals. FutureFuel Chemical Company breaks its chemicals
business into two main product groups: custom manufacturing and performance
chemicals. Major products in the custom manufacturing group include:
(i) nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, a bleach activator manufactured
exclusively for The Procter & Gamble Company for use in a household
detergent; (ii) a proprietary herbicide (and intermediates) manufactured
exclusively for Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation, a major life
sciences company; (iii) two product lines (CPOs and DIPB) produced under
conversion contracts for Eastman Chemical Company; and (iv) an industrial
intermediate manufactured for a customer for use in the antimicrobial
industry. The major product line in the performance chemicals group
is SSIPA/LiSIPA, a polymer modifier that aids the properties of nylon
manufactured for a broad customer base. There are a number of
additional small volume custom and performance chemical products that FutureFuel
Chemical Company groups into “other products”. In late 2005,
FutureFuel Chemical Company began producing biodiesel. Beginning in
2006, revenues and cost of goods sold for biofuels were treated as a separate
business segment.
Revenues
generated from the bleach activator are based on a supply agreement with the
customer. The supply agreement stipulates selling price per kilogram
based on volume sold, with price moving up as volumes move down, and
vice-versa. The current contract expires in March
2013. FutureFuel Chemical Company pays for raw materials required to
produce the bleach activator. The contract with the customer provides
that the price received by FutureFuel Chemical Company for the bleach activator
is indexed to changes in certain items, enabling FutureFuel Chemical Company to
pass along most inflationary increases in production costs to the
customer.
FutureFuel
Chemical Company has been the exclusive manufacturer for its customer of a
proprietary herbicide and certain intermediates. These products are
beginning to face some generic competition, and no assurances can be given that
FutureFuel Chemical Company will remain the exclusive manufacturer for this
product line. The contracts automatically renew for successive
one-year periods, subject to the right of either party to terminate the contract
not later than 270 days prior to the end of the then current term for the
herbicide and not later than 18 months prior to the then current term for
the intermediates. No assurances can be given that these contracts
will not be terminated. The customer supplies most of the key raw
materials for production of the proprietary herbicide. There is no
pricing mechanism or specific protection against cost changes for raw materials
or conversion costs that FutureFuel Chemical Company is responsible for
purchasing and/or providing.
CPOs are
chemical intermediates that promote adhesion for plastic coatings and DIPB are
intermediates for production of Eastman Chemical Company products used as
general purpose inhibitors, intermediates or antioxidants. As part of
our acquisition of FutureFuel Chemical Company, FutureFuel Chemical Company
entered into conversion agreements with Eastman Chemical Company that
effectively provide a conversion fee to FutureFuel Chemical Company for CPOs and
DIPB based on volume manufactured, with a minimum annual fee for both
products. In addition, the conversion agreements provide for revenue
adjustments for the actual price of raw materials purchased by FutureFuel
Chemical Company at standard usages. Eastman Chemical Company
provides key raw materials at no cost. For the key raw materials,
usage over standard is owed Eastman Chemical Company; likewise, any improvement
over standard is owed to FutureFuel Chemical Company at the actual price Eastman
Chemical Company incurred for the key raw material.
In 2008
FutureFuel Chemical Company entered into a contract with a new customer for the
toll manufacture of an industrial intermediate utilized in the antimicrobial
industry. FutureFuel Chemical Company invested
14
approximately
$10 million in capital expenditures to modify and expand its plant to
produce this industrial intermediate. The customer reimbursed these
expenditures, which reimbursements have been classified as deferred revenue on
our balance sheet and will be earned into income over the expected life of the
product. The contract stipulates a price curve based on volumes sold
and has an inflationary pricing provision, whereby FutureFuel Chemical Company
passes along most inflationary changes in production costs to the
customer. The contract expires in December 2013.
SSIPA/LiSIPA
revenues are generated from a diverse customer base of nylon fiber manufacturers
and other customers that produce condensation polymers. Contract
sales are indexed to key raw materials for inflation; otherwise, there is no
pricing mechanism or specific protection against raw material or conversion cost
changes.
Other
products include agricultural intermediates and additives, imaging chemicals,
fiber additives and various specialty pharmaceutical intermediates that
FutureFuel Chemical Company has in full commercial production or in
development. These products are currently sold in small quantities to
a large customer base. Pricing for these products is negotiated
directly with the customer (in the case of custom manufacturing) or is
established based upon competitive market conditions (in the case of performance
chemicals). In general, these products have no pricing mechanism or
specific protection against raw material or conversion cost
changes.
The year
ended December 31, 2006 was the first full year that FutureFuel Chemical
Company sold biodiesel. FutureFuel Chemical Company procures all of
its own feedstock and only sells biodiesel for its own account. In
rare instances, FutureFuel Chemical Company purchases biodiesel from other
producers for resale. FutureFuel Chemical Company has the capability
to process multiple types of vegetable oils and animal fats, it can receive
feedstock by rail or truck, and it has completed the construction of substantial
storage capacity to acquire feedstock at advantaged prices when market
conditions permit. We have recently completed a project to increase
FutureFuel Chemical Company’s production capacity to 59 million gallons of
biodiesel per year through the addition of a new continuous processing
line. We initiated commercial production from this new line in May
2009. By the end of the second quarter, daily production volumes from
the new processing line were demonstrated at approximately 80% of nameplate
capacity. We believe we have successfully demonstrated our ability to
keep our former continuous processing line at or near capacity for sustained
periods of time as well as our ability to both procure and logistically handle
large quantities of feedstock. Uncertainty related to our future
biodiesel production relates to changes in feedstock prices relative to
biodiesel prices and to the $1 per gallon federal blenders credit, which is only
extended to the end of 2009.
While
biodiesel is the principal component of the biofuels segment, we also generate
revenue from the sale of diesel both in blends with our biodiesel and, from time
to time, with no biodiesel added. Diesel and biodiesel blends are
available to customers at our leased storage facility in North Little Rock,
Arkansas. In addition, we deliver blended product to a small group of
customers within our region.
The
majority of our and FutureFuel Chemical Company’s expenses are cost of goods
sold. Cost of goods sold includes raw material costs as well as both
fixed and variable conversion costs, conversion costs being those expenses that
are directly or indirectly related to the operation of FutureFuel Chemical
Company’s plant. Significant conversion costs include labor,
benefits, energy, supplies, depreciation and maintenance and
repair. In addition to raw material and conversion costs, cost of
goods sold includes environmental reserves and costs related to idle
capacity. Finally, cost of goods sold includes hedging gains and
losses recognized by us related to our biofuels segment. Cost of
goods sold is allocated to the chemical and biofuels business segments based on
equipment and resource usage for most conversion costs and based on revenues for
most other costs.
Operating
costs include selling, general and administrative and research and development
expenses. These expense categories include expenses that were
directly incurred by us and FutureFuel Chemical Company.
The
discussion of results of operations that follows is based on revenues and
expenses in total and for individual product lines and does not differentiate
related party transactions.
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30,
2008
Revenues: Revenues for the
quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $52,263,000 as compared to revenues for
the quarter ended September 30, 2008 of $60,585,000, a decrease of
14%. Revenues from biofuels decreased 30% and
15
accounted
for 25% of total revenues in 2009 as compared to 31% in
2008. Revenues from chemicals decreased 7% and accounted for 75% of
total revenues in 2009 as compared to 69% in 2008. Within the
chemicals segment, revenues for the third quarter of 2009 changed as follows as
compared to the third quarter of 2008: revenues from the bleach activator
decreased 16%; revenues from the proprietary herbicide and intermediates
increased 14%; revenues from CPOs decreased 59%; revenues from DIPB increased
13%; and revenues from other products increased 9%.
The
decrease in revenue from the bleach activator was attributable to lower price
which resulted primarily from decreases in the cost of certain raw materials
that are passed along to the customer via the pricing formula, as well as
reduced volumes.
Revenues
from the bleach activator and the proprietary herbicide and intermediates are
together the most significant components of FutureFuel Chemical Company’s
revenue base, accounting for 55% of revenues in the quarter ended September 30,
2009 as compared to 51% in the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The
future volume of and revenues from the bleach activator depend on both consumer
demand for the product containing the bleach activator and the manufacturing,
sales and marketing priorities of our customer. We are unable to
predict with certainty the revenues we will receive from this product in the
future. With respect to the proprietary herbicide, volumes were
essentially the same in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the quarter
ended September 30, 2008.
Revenues
from CPOs and DIPB together decreased 25% during the third quarter of
2009. One key end market for CPOs is the automotive industry and
demand for this product has been impacted by both economic conditions and an
inventory build by our customer at the end of 2008. Revenues from
DIPB were impacted by reduced demand from our customer as well as a scheduled
maintenance shutdown for the equipment utilized to manufacture DIPB at our
Batesville site. We anticipate revenues from both products to
increase moderately in the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared to the third
quarter of 2009. However, both of these products are negatively
impacted by the automotive and housing slow down and, as a result, future market
conditions for CPOs and DIPB may be challenging.
Decreased
revenues from the biofuels segment stem entirely from reduced price during the
third quarter of 2009 as compared to the third quarter of 2008; volume of
biofuels sold during the third quarter of 2009 increased 22% over the volume
sold during the third quarter of 2008. We generally price our
biodiesel in line with posted ultra low sulfur diesel prices in our region,
which declined from 2008 to 2009 with the overall market for petroleum and
related products.
Cost of Goods Sold and
Distribution: Total cost of goods sold and distribution for
the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $38,613,000 as compared to total cost
of goods sold and distribution for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 of
$49,705,000, a decrease of 22%.
Cost of
goods sold and distribution for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 for
FutureFuel Chemical Company’s chemicals segment were $31,100,000 as compared to
cost of goods sold and distribution for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 of
$33,494,000. On a percentage basis, the 7% decrease in cost of goods
sold and distribution was in line with the 7% decrease in chemicals segment
revenues.
Cost of
goods sold and distribution for the third quarter of 2009 for FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s biofuels segment were $7,513,000 as compared to cost of goods
sold and distribution for the third quarter of 2008 of
$16,211,000. On a percentage basis, the 54% decrease in cost of goods
sold and distribution was significantly greater than the 30% decrease in
biofuels segment revenues. This decrease is equally attributable to
decreased feedstock prices, improved production capabilities which have resulted
in lower per gallon variable processing costs, and the receipt of the $2,000,000
award from the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development Program. Under
this program, biodiesel producers in the state of Arkansas are eligible to
receive $0.20 per gallon for every gallon of biodiesel produced during defined
time periods, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 per period, subject to funding by
the State of Arkansas. FutureFuel Chemical Company applied for and,
in early July 2009, received maximum funding under the program for biodiesel
produced between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Based on
the characteristics of the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development Program and
the State funding behind this program, we recognized income in the period
funding is received.
16
Operating
Expenses: Operating expenses increased 5% from $2,154,000 for
the quarter ended September 30, 2008 to $2,265,000 for the quarter ended
September 30, 2009. There was no material increase or decrease in the
various elements of selling, general and administrative expense or research and
development expense.
Provision for Income
Taxes: The effective tax rates for the three months ended
September 30, 2009 and 2008 reflect our expected tax rate on reported operating
earnings before income taxes. We have determined that we do not
believe that we have a more likely than not probability of realizing a portion
of our deferred tax assets. As such, we have recorded a valuation
allowance of $703,000 at September 30, 2009.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
Revenues: Revenues for the
nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $133,831,000 as compared to revenues
for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 of $153,701,000, a decrease of
13%. Revenues from biofuels decreased 21% and accounted for 23% of
total revenues in 2009 as compared to 25% in 2008. Revenues from
chemicals decreased 10% and accounted for 77% of total revenues in 2009 as
compared to 75% in 2008. Within the chemicals segment, revenues for
the nine months of 2009 changed as follows as compared to the nine months of
2008: revenues from the bleach activator decreased 15%; revenues from the
proprietary herbicide and intermediates increased 8%; revenues from CPOs
decreased 80%; revenues from DIPB increased 1%; and revenues from other products
increased 5%.
Revenues
from the bleach activator and the proprietary herbicide and intermediates are
together the most significant components of FutureFuel Chemical Company’s
revenue base, accounting for 58% of revenues in the nine months ended September
30, 2009 as compared to 55% in the nine months ended September 30,
2008. The decrease in revenue from the bleach activator during the
first nine months of 2009 as compared to the first nine months of 2008 was
primarily attributable to lower volumes sold during the first and third quarters
of 2009 as compared to the first and third quarters of 2008. The
future volume of and revenues from the bleach activator depend on both consumer
demand for the product containing the bleach activator and the manufacturing,
sales and marketing priorities of our customer. We are unable to
predict with certainty the revenues we will receive from this product in the
future. With respect to the proprietary herbicide, we believe the
moderate increase in revenues for the first nine months of 2009 is a result of
our customer benefiting from the general increase in herbicide
demand.
Revenues
from CPOs and DIPB together decreased 41% during the first nine months of
2009. The end market for CPOs is the automotive industry and demand
for this product has been impacted by both economic conditions and an inventory
build by our customer at the end of 2008. Revenues from DIPB were
impacted by reduced demand from our customer as well as a scheduled maintenance
shutdown during the second quarter of 2009 for the equipment utilized to
manufacture DIPB at our Batesville site.
Decreased
revenues from the biofuels segment stem entirely from reduced price during the
first nine months of 2009 as compared to the first nine months of 2008; volume
of biofuels sold increased 52% from period to period. In addition to
previously noted items, increased volumes for the biofuels segment are
attributable, in part, to the addition of several new customers in our region
for whom we are the sole source of supply of biodiesel blends ranging from less
than 5% biodiesel to as much as 20% biodiesel. We have also
maintained relationships with key customers that continue to purchase
significant quantities of biodiesel for delivery to markets outside of
Arkansas.
Cost of Goods Sold and
Distribution: Total cost of goods sold and distribution for
the first nine months of 2009 were $107,953,000 as compared to total cost of
goods sold and distribution for the first nine months of 2008 of $127,789,000, a
decrease of 16%.
Cost of
goods sold and distribution for the first nine months of 2009 for FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s chemicals segment were $81,110,000 as compared to cost of
goods sold and distribution for the first nine months of 2008 of
$90,754,000. On a percentage basis, the 11% decrease in cost of goods
sold and distribution was slightly less than the 13% decrease in chemicals
segment revenues.
Cost of
goods sold and distribution for the first nine months of 2009 for FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s biofuels segment were $26,843,000 as compared to cost of
goods sold and distribution for the first nine months of 2008 of
$37,035,000. On a percentage basis, cost of goods sold and
distribution decreased 28% versus a decline in revenues of 21%. This
difference is primarily the result of lower feedstock prices and improved
production capabilities which
17
have
resulted in lower per gallon variable processing costs. Both the 2008
and 2009 nine month periods include the $2,000,000 award from the Arkansas
Alternative Fuels Development Program. Under this program, biodiesel
producers in the state of Arkansas are eligible to receive $0.20 per gallon for
every gallon of biodiesel produced during defined time periods, up to a maximum
of $2,000,000 per period, subject to funding by the State of
Arkansas. FutureFuel Chemical Company applied for and, in the first
quarter of 2008, received the maximum $2,000,000 funding under this program for
biodiesel produced between January 1, 2007 and June 30,
2008. FutureFuel Chemical Company applied for and, in the third
quarter of 2009, received maximum funding under the program for biodiesel
produced between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Based on
the characteristics of the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development Program and
the State funding behind this program, we recognized income in the period
funding is received.
Operating
Expenses: Operating expenses increased 8% from $6,102,000 for
the first nine months of 2008 to $6,565,000 for the first nine months of
2009. This change is attributable to a $340,000, or 36%, increase in
other expense. This component of selling, general and administrative
expense includes legal fees which were higher in the first nine months of 2009
as a result of issues described under Other Matters. The addition of
a granary to our operations also contributed to the increase in other
expense. There was no material increase or decrease in the other
components of selling, general and administrative expense or research and
development expense.
Provision for Income
Taxes: The effective tax rates for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009 and 2008 reflect our expected tax rate on reported operating
earnings before income taxes. We have determined that we do not
believe that we have a more likely than not probability of realizing a portion
of our deferred tax assets. As such, we have recorded a valuation
allowance of $703,000 at September 30, 2009.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
Revenue
Recognition: For most product sales, revenue is recognized
when product is shipped from our facilities and risk of loss and title have
passed to the customer, which is in accordance with our customer contracts and
the stated shipping terms. Nearly all custom manufactured products
are manufactured under written contracts. Performance chemicals and
biodiesel are sold pursuant to the terms of written purchase
orders. In general, customers do not have any rights of return,
except for quality disputes. However, all of our products are tested
for quality before shipment, and historically returns have been
inconsequential. We do not offer volume discounts, rebates or
warranties.
Revenue
from bill and hold transactions in which a performance obligation exists is
recognized when the total performance obligation has been met. Bill
and hold transactions for three specialty chemical customers in 2008 and four
specialty chemical customers in 2009 related to revenue that was recognized in
accordance with contractual agreements based on product produced and ready for
use. These sales were subject to written monthly purchase orders with
agreement that production was reasonable. The inventory was custom
manufactured and stored at the customer’s request and could not be sold to
another buyer. Credit and payment terms for bill and hold customers
are similar to other specialty chemical customers. Sales revenue
under bill and hold arrangements were $13,448,000 and $12,701,000 for the three
months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
consolidated net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, investing
activities and financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009
and 2008 are set forth in the following chart.
(Dollars
in thousands)
September
30,
2009
|
September
30,
2008
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
$ | 15,457 | $ | 27,029 | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
$ | 30,607 | $ | (55,214 | ) | |||
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
$ | (385 | ) | $ | 957 |
Operating
Activities: Cash provided by operating activities decreased
from $27,029,000 during the first nine months of 2008 to $15,457,000 during the
first nine months of 2009. Discussion of the significant components
of this change follows. Cash provided by (used in) the change in the
fair value of derivative instruments and marketable
18
securities
decreased from $1,669,000 in the first nine months of 2008 to $(1,322,000) in
2009. This decrease is attributable to a reduced position in both
option and futures contracts at December 31, 2007 as compared to September 30,
2008, as well as an increased overall position at December 31, 2008 as compared
to September 30, 2009. Cash provided by (used in) the change in
accounts payable, including related party balances, decreased from $1,937,000 in
the first nine months of 2008 to $(1,573,000) in 2009. The decline in
accounts payable, including related party balances, from December 31, 2008 to
September 30, 2009 stemmed from reduced raw material purchases at the end of the
third quarter for two of our primary product lines. The increase in
accounts payable, including related party balances, from December 31, 2007 to
September 30, 2008 was primary attributable to minimal biodiesel feedstock
purchases during December 2007. Cash generated from (used in) changes
in income taxes payable increased from $(1,231,000) in the first nine months of
2008 to $2,576,000 in 2009. This change in cash generated from (used
in) income taxes payable results from the timing of our tax payments in the
first nine months of 2008 which were such that we had an income tax receivable
at September 30, 2008, whereas through the first nine months of 2009, the timing
and amount of our payments was such that we carried an income tax payable
balance at September 30, 2009. Cash provided by (used in) changes in
deferred revenue decreased from $7,461,000 in the first nine months of 2008 to
$(578,000) in 2009. FutureFuel Chemical Company signed a contract
with a customer to install and modify equipment for the manufacture of a custom
chemical on its property. The cost of construction was funded by the
customer and reimbursements were recognized as deferred revenue to be amortized
over the expected life of the customer relationship. Construction was
completed in December 2008 and product began shipping to the customer in early
2009.
Investing
Activities: Cash provided by (used in) investing activities
increased from $(55,214,000) in the first nine months of 2008 to $30,607,000 in
2009. This increase is primarily attributable to net cash flows
provided by short term investments. Cash used in the purchase of
marketable securities decreased from $56,807,000 in the first nine months of
2008 to $19,999,000 in 2009. Cash provided by (used in) the purchase
of auction rate securities, net, increased from $(25,600,000) in the first nine
months of 2008 to $12,185,000 in 2009. Cash provided by proceeds from
the sale of commercial paper increased from $- in the first nine months of 2008
to $15,424,000 in 2009. The investing activities which spurred these
changes are further described below under “Capital Management”. In
addition to cash flows provided by short term investments, the increase in cash
provided by investing activities was partially attributable to cash provided by
(used in) the collateralization of derivative instruments, which increased from
$(2,240,000) in the first nine months of 2008 to $5,719,000 for in
2009. This increase is a result of a larger position in options and
futures contracts at December 31, 2008 as compared to other periods and, hence,
a higher amount of collateral required on the associated account.
Financing
Activities: Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
decreased from $957 in the first nine months of 2008 to $(385) in
2009. Cash provided by proceeds from the line of credit and proceeds
from the issuance of stock totaled $935 in the first nine months of
2008. There was no cash provided by these activities in
2009. Furthermore, cash used in the purchase of warrants increased
from $- in 2008 to $385,000 in 2009.
Credit
Facility
FutureFuel
Chemical Company entered into a $50 million credit agreement with a
commercial bank in March 2007. The loan is a revolving facility the
proceeds of which may be used for working capital, capital expenditures and
general corporate purposes of FutureFuel Chemical Company. The
facility terminates in March 2010. Advances are made pursuant to a
borrowing base. Advances are secured by a perfected first priority
security interest in accounts receivable and inventory. The interest
rate floats at certain margins over LIBOR or base rate dependent upon certain
leverage ratios.
There is
an unused commitment fee. The ratio of EBITDA to fixed charges may
not be less than 3:1. We have guaranteed FutureFuel Chemical
Company’s obligations under this credit agreement.
As of
September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, FutureFuel Chemical Company had
no borrowings under this $50 million credit agreement.
We intend
to fund future capital requirements for FutureFuel Chemical Company’s chemical
and biofuels segments from cash flow generated by FutureFuel Chemical Company as
well as from existing cash and borrowings under the credit
facility. We do not believe there will be a need to issue any
securities to fund such capital requirements.
19
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
Our only
off-balance sheet arrangements were hedging transactions. We
engage in two types of hedging transactions. First, we hedge our
biodiesel sales through the purchase and sale of futures contracts and options
on futures contracts of energy commodities. This activity was
captured on our balance sheet at September 30, 2009 and December 31,
2008. Second, we hedge our biodiesel feedstock through the execution
of purchase contracts and supply agreements with certain
vendors. These hedging transactions are recognized in earnings and
were not recorded on our balance sheet at September 30, 2009 or
December 31, 2008 as they do not meet the definition of a derivative
instrument as defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the
U.S. The purchase of biodiesel feedstock generally involves two
components: basis and price. Basis covers any refining or processing
required as well as transportation. Price covers the purchases of the
actual agricultural commodity. Both basis and price fluctuate over
time. A supply agreement with a vendor constitutes a hedge when
FutureFuel Chemical Company has committed to a certain volume of feedstock in a
future period and has fixed the basis and/or price for that volume.
Capital
Management
As a
result of our initial equity offering and the subsequent positive operating
results of FutureFuel Chemical Company, we have accumulated excess working
capital. We intend to retain all remaining cash to fund
infrastructure and capacity expansion at FutureFuel Chemical Company and to
pursue complimentary acquisitions in the oil and gas and chemical
industries. Given the recent and current conditions in capital
markets, we intend to take a risk averse approach to managing these
funds. Third parties have not placed significant restrictions on our
working capital management decisions.
In the
third quarter of 2009, these funds were predominantly held in cash or cash
equivalents at multiple financial institutions. We also maintained a
small position in auction rate securities.
We have
selectively made investments in certain auction rate securities that we believe
offer sufficient yield along with sufficient liquidity. To date, all
the auction rate securities in which we have invested have maintained a
mechanism for liquidity, meaning that the respective auctions have not failed,
the issuers have called the instruments, or a secondary market exists for
liquidation of the securities. We have classified these instruments
as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and carry them
at their estimated fair market value. The fair market value of these
instruments approximated their par value and, including accrued interest,
totaled $2,800,000 at September 30, 2009. Auction rate securities are
typically long term bonds issued by an entity for which there is a series of
auctions over the life of the bond that serve to reset the interest rate on the
bonds to a market rate. These auctions also serve as a mechanism to
provide liquidity to the bond holders; as long as there are sufficient
purchasers of the auction rate securities, the then owners of the auction rate
securities are able to liquidate their investment through a sale to the new
purchasers. In the event of an auction failure, a situation when
there are more sellers than buyers of a particular issue, the current owners of
an auction rate security issue may not be able to liquidate their
investment. As a result of an auction failure, a holder may be forced
to hold the particular security either until maturity or until a willing buyer
is found. Even if a willing buyer is found, however, there is no
guarantee that this willing buyer will purchase the security for its carrying
value, which would result in a loss being realized on the sale. The
liquidity problems currently experienced in the U.S. auction rate securities
markets have generally been focused on closed-end fund and student loan auction
rate securities, asset classes that we have avoided.
We
maintain depository accounts such as checking accounts, money market accounts
and other similar accounts at selected financial institutions.
Other
Matters
We
entered into an agreement with a customer to construct, at a fixed price, a
processing plant and produce a certain chemical for the customer. We
engaged a third party to act as general contractor on the construction of this
plant for a guaranteed price. That general contractor defaulted on
its obligations under its contract with us and abandoned the
project. As a result, we undertook the general contractor role
ourselves. We also filed suit against our former contractor to recoup
any damages that we may incur as a result of his default. The former
contractor has
20
counterclaimed
against us for amounts he asserts are due him under our contract with
him. At this time, we are unable to determine what effect the general
contractor’s counterclaim will have on us or on our financial
condition.
We
entered into an agreement with a biodiesel trade association to pay certain fees
and dues to the association in order to obtain access and registration to the
association’s compiled biodiesel health effects data (“HED”)
required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”)
for biodiesel manufacturers. Manufacturers of biodiesel who pay their
fair share of costs for the HED can have access to and obtain registration with
the USEPA. We brought suit against the trade association for
rescission of the agreement for various reasons including, among other things,
that we have already paid our fair share of costs for the data to the trade
association; and that the fees and dues structure of the trade association are
overly excessive and against public policy. The trade association has
filed suit against us for collection of alleged fees and dues owed by us to
it. At this time, we are unable to determine what effect the trade
association’s suit against us will have on us or on our financial
condition.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
In recent
years, general economic inflation has not had a material adverse impact on
FutureFuel Chemical Company’s costs and, as described elsewhere herein, we have
passed some price increases along to our customers. However, we are
subject to certain market risks as described below.
Market
risk represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates
and prices. Commodity price risk is inherent in the chemical and
biofuels business both with respect to input (electricity, coal, biofuel
feedstock, etc.) and output (manufactured chemicals and biofuels).
We seek
to mitigate our market risks associated with the manufacturing and sale of
chemicals by entering into term sale contracts that include contractual market
price adjustment protections to allow changes in market prices of key raw
materials to be passed on to the customer. Such price protections are
not always obtained, however, so raw material price risk remains
significant.
In order
to manage price risk caused by market fluctuations in biofuel prices, we may
enter into exchange traded commodity futures and options
contracts. We account for these derivative instruments in accordance
with ASC 815-20-25, Derivatives and Hedging,
Hedging-General, Recognition. Under this standard, the
accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends upon
whether it has been designated as an accounting hedging relationship and,
further, on the type of hedging relationship. To qualify for
designation as an accounting hedging relationship, specific criteria must be met
and appropriate documentation maintained. We had no derivative
instruments that qualified under these rules as designated accounting hedges in
2009 or 2008. Changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments
are recognized at the end of each accounting period and recorded in the
statement of operations as a component of cost of goods sold.
Our
immediate recognition of derivative instrument gains and losses can cause net
income to be volatile from quarter to quarter due to the timing of the change in
value of the derivative instruments relative to the sale of biofuel being
sold. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the fair
values of our derivative instruments were a net liability in the amount of
$1,845,000 and $3,175,000, respectively.
Our gross
profit will be impacted by the prices we pay for raw materials and conversion
costs (costs incurred in the production of chemicals and biofuels) for which we
do not possess contractual market price adjustment protection. These
items are principally comprised of animal fat and electricity. The
availability and price of these items are subject to wide fluctuations due to
unpredictable factors such as weather conditions, overall economic conditions,
governmental policies, commodity markets and global supply and
demand.
We
prepared a sensitivity analysis of our exposure to market risk with respect to
key raw materials and conversion costs for which we do not possess contractual
market price adjustment protections, based on average prices for the first nine
months of 2009. We included only those raw materials and conversion
costs for which a hypothetical adverse change in price would result in a 1.5% or
greater decrease in gross profit. Assuming that the prices of the
associated finished goods could not be increased and assuming no change in
quantities sold, a hypothetical 10% change in the average price of the
commodities listed below would result in the following change in annual gross
profit:
21
(Volumes
and dollars in thousands)
Item
|
Volume(a)
Requirements
|
Units
|
Hypothetical
Adverse
Change
in
Price
|
Decrease
in
Gross
Profit
|
Percentage
Decrease
in
Gross
Profit
|
||||||||||||
Animal
fat
|
114,008 |
LB
|
10.0% | $ | 2,782 | 10.7% | |||||||||||
Electricity
|
60 |
MWH
|
10.0% | $ | 383 | 1.5% |
__________
(a)
|
Volume
requirements and average price information are based upon volumes used and
prices obtained for the nine months ended September 30,
2009. Volume requirements may differ materially from these
quantities in future years as the business of FutureFuel Chemical Company
evolves.
|
As of
September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had no borrowings and, as
such, were not exposed to interest rate risk.
Item
4. Controls and Procedures.
Under the
supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our
Principal Financial Officer and other senior management personnel, we evaluated
the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange
Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this
report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our
Principal Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and
procedures as of September 30, 2009 were effective to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and
forms.
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last
fiscal quarter that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
22
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings.
Neither
we nor our subsidiary are a party to, nor is any of ours or their property
subject to, any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their businesses.
From time
to time, FutureFuel Chemical Company and its operations may be parties to, or
targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including product
liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property,
commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety and employment
matters, which we expect to be handled and defended in the ordinary course of
business. While we are unable to predict the outcome of any matters
currently pending, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of any such
pending matters will have a material adverse effect on our overall financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, adverse
developments could negatively impact earnings or cash flows in future
periods.
Item
1A. Risk Factors.
See our
Form 10-K, Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2009 for a
description of “Risk Factors” relating to an investment in us. There
are no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in such filing except as
follows.
The
federal excise tax credit for biodiesel expires on December 31, 2009 and
Congress has not enacted legislation to extend this credit. If the
credit expires, FutureFuel Chemical Company’s cost of producing biodiesel will
be increased, which could have an adverse effect on our financial
position.
In
October 2004, Congress passed a biodiesel tax incentive, structured as a federal
excise tax credit, as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of
2004. The credit amounts to one cent for each percentage point of
vegetable oil or animal fat biodiesel that is blended with petrodiesel (and
one-half cent for each percentage point of recycled oils and other
non-agricultural biodiesel). For example, blenders that blend B20
made from soy, canola and other vegetable oils and animal fats receive a 20¢ per
gallon excise tax credit, while biodiesel made from recycled restaurant oils
(yellow grease) receive half of this credit. The tax incentive
generally is taken by petroleum distributors and is passed on to the
consumer. It is designed to lower the cost of biodiesel to consumers
in both taxable and tax-exempt markets. The tax credit was scheduled
to expire at the end of 2006, but was extended in the Energy Policy Act of 2005
to December 31, 2008 and most recently it was extended to December 31,
2009.
Congress
has not enacted any legislation to extend this tax credit beyond
December 31, 2009. If the tax credit is not extended, FutureFuel
Chemical Company’s biodiesel production costs will increase by $1.00 per
gallon. If biodiesel feedstock costs do not decrease significantly
relative to biodiesel prices by the beginning of 2010, FutureFuel Chemical
Company would realize a negative biodiesel production margin. As a
result, we would cease producing biodiesel, which could have an adverse effect
on our financial condition.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item
5. Other Information.
On August
19, 2009, we purchased and subsequently extinguished 1,100,000 warrants to
acquire one share of our common stock per warrant. These warrants
were not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
purchase price was $0.35 per warrant and the purchase was from one or multiple
non-affiliates. The number of warrants unexercised as of September
30, 2009 was 20,217,500.
23
Item
6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
|
31(a)
|
Rule
13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of chief executive
officer
|
31(b)
|
Rule
13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certification of principal financial
officer
|
32
|
Section
1350 Certification of chief executive officer and principal financial
officer
|
Forward
Looking Information
This Form
contains or incorporates by reference “forward-looking
statements”. When used in this document, the words “anticipate,”
“believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” and “intend” and similar expressions,
as they relate to us, FutureFuel Chemical Company or our respective management,
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on current management assumptions and are
subject to uncertainties and inherent risks that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. We caution you therefore that you should not rely on any
of these forward-looking statements as statements of historical fact or as
guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political,
economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions as well as,
but not limited to, the following:
·
|
conflicts
of interest of our officers and
directors;
|
·
|
potential
future affiliations of our officers and directors with competing
businesses;
|
·
|
the
control by our founding shareholders of a substantial interest in
us;
|
·
|
the
highly competitive nature of the chemical and alternative fuel
industries;
|
·
|
fluctuations
in energy prices may cause a reduction in the demand or profitability of
the products or services we may ultimately produce or offer or which form
a portion of our business;
|
·
|
changes
in technology may render our products or services
obsolete;
|
·
|
failure
to comply with governmental regulations could result in the imposition of
penalties, fines or restrictions on operations and remedial
liabilities;
|
·
|
the
operations of FutureFuel Chemical Company’s biofuels business may be
harmed if the applicable government were to change current laws and/or
regulations;
|
·
|
our
board may have incorrectly evaluated FutureFuel Chemical Company’s
potential liabilities;
|
·
|
our
board may have FutureFuel Chemical Company engage in hedging transactions
in an attempt to mitigate exposure to price fluctuations in petroleum
product transactions and other portfolio positions which may not
ultimately be successful; and
|
·
|
we
may not continue to have access to capital markets and commercial bank
financing on favorable terms and FutureFuel Chemical Company may lose its
ability to buy on open credit
terms.
|
Although
we believe that the expectations reflected by such forward-looking statements
are reasonable based on information currently available to us, no assurances can
be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. All
forward-looking statements included in this Form and all subsequent oral
forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf
are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary
statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as to their
particular dates.
24
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
FUTUREFUEL
CORP.
By: /s/ Douglas D.
Hommert
Douglas
D. Hommert, Executive Vice President, Secretary
and
Treasurer
Date: November
9, 2009
25